Tell us why Portland needs an Office of Equity

In an era when local governments are increasingly forced to do more with less, it's easy to question the wisdom of creating an Office of Equity in City Hall. True, promoting equity is a good thing, but when programs are being cut or eliminated, can Mayor Sam Adams really justify a new avenue of bureaucracy?

It would be one thing if Adams' plan were detailed and unique, but it is vague, possibly duplicative of other city and county efforts, and provides for no enforcement authority. Evidently we're creating an Office of Equity possessed of only the power of persuasion. How will that advance Adams' stated goal of preventing "social unrest"? How will that bring Portland closer to being a place where colorblindness, diversity and tolerance are the norms? And how will that make opportunities more equal for all Portlanders?

Adams' idea doesn't lack for laudable goals, but it lacks the specifics needed to demonstrate how the Office of Equity will advance those goals. If the Office of Equity has no actual enforcement authority, taxpayers will be throwing a million dollars at -- what, exactly?

If Adams is serious about making Portland a more equitable and less restive place, his plan must be detailed and heavy on specifics. It must rely more on action and less on symbolism. Selling a vaguely defined bureaucracy to Portlanders will be a challenge under the best of circumstances. The mayor needs to clearly identify the problem and explain how the Office of Equity will address and resolve that problem. He also needs to explain how the Office of Equity's mission will differ from that of the Human Rights Commission and Office of Human Relations, which have been in place since 2008.

Most Portlanders understand that we don't live in the most diverse and colorblind city in the country. We recognize that our city can and should do a better job of being inclusive and equitable. Most Portlanders hesitate to use the "R" word -- "racism" -- but the reality is that the Rose City's history isn't spotless when it comes to race relations. We can -- and I think most Portlanders want to -- do better. It's difficult to see how an Office of Equity that lacks both a defined mission and enforcement authority moves Portland toward being a more equitable place.

Adams' idea has merit, and many smart, capable people have had input into the concept he proposed in his State of the City address. It's frustrating that a positive idea has been put forward in a haphazard "give me the money, and I'll figure out the details as we go" manner.

It's possible that the current economic and political climate may not be the right time for this idea. Nonetheless, I'd like to see Adams come back with a plan that details the mission of the Office of Equity. Only then will Portlanders be able to fully evaluate whether Adams' idea makes sense for our city.

Jack Cluth is a freelance writer/blogger. He lives in Northeast Portland.